Roto-monsta Taro argues against Dr. D's wish for Chavez to get some PT in center field.  The logic being that Franklin Gutierrez is good and Endy Chavez isn't.

We're posting his analysis here, with kibitzing, NOT for the purpose of correcting or debating.  :- ) It's promotoed to front-page because the analysis is worth emphasizing.  My own noodlings are in there just roundtable-style.

Thanks amigo.

Taro sez:

I don’t think Endy Chavez’ streak is going to continue (a guy who I think should be in an OF rotation) and I don’t think hes as good of a fielder or a hitter as Gutierrez. By this logic you would bench Ichiro, Beltre, Lopez, and Griffey too.

Huh!  Okay.  So if Chavez isn't as good a FIELDER as Gutierrez, that does change the conversation.  From the 3rd deck, my impression has been that Chavez is at least as good defensively as F-Goot.  That is nothing more than a first impression, though.

Chavez is a scamper-y little waterbug -- we say it affectionately -- and he can really pick 'em up and lay 'em down.  He's camped, waiting, under deep balls that look like they might fall.

Still, I might have lost sight of the fact that Gutierrez is a ballplayer that you are invested in, and Chavez is an (impressive) 30-something veteran bench player.   You wouldn't have given Cameron's AB's to Willie Bloomquist.

Gutierrez is showing that his BB spike at the end of last year WASN’T a fluke. While the results aren’t there yet the approach is:

10.9 BB%
18.1 O-Swing%
83.6 CT%
17.1 K%
0.71 BB/K
.146 IsoP
18.2 LD%

If you only looked at his OPS line you’d think this is a guy thats struggling at the plate. That just simply isn’t the case.

Will cheerfully admit that early on, Gutierrez' 5/7 eye ratio is encouraging.  That's going in the right direction.

BUT I do have to put an asterisk on it:  a lot of guys have one month's worth of positive BB/K results.  A lot of those early eye ratios will veer as the ballclub faces different pitchers.

Still, 5/7 is headed in the right direction.

....................

One thing to be aware of: Mike Cameron was destroyed by Safeco. Assuming! that Gutierrez’ component offensive skills — eye ratio, LD%, etc, continue to progress — you’re still left with the prospect of his hard-hit RH balls dying in the gaps.

I don't notice that Gutierrez has been robbed of many hits, do you?  So why is the AVG/OBP/SLG poor despite the strike zone control improving?

Don't get me wrong.  Gutierrez is young and deserves a chance to develop.  But let's be aware too, that Gutierrez could hit the ball well and continue to get poor results in Safeco.

……………….

EVERYTHING is improving. So far early this season hes showing that hes getting better. His been more patient. Hes making more contact. Hes not swinging at bad pitches. Hes hitting for decent power. Hes squaring up the ball better. That .242 BABIP ISN’T going to continue if he keeps hitting like this. The guy HAS been hitting like a legit 800 OPS hitter so far early in the season.

If Gutierrez continues like this hes going to be the current answer to Mike Cameron in his prime. He’d be THE best position player on the team including Ichiro.

Hmmm :-/

If you’re optimistic on Gutierrez, you’re still left with the fact that Chavez is a scrappy LH hitter who can help him out with the tough righties.   Chavez is a nice fit for Safeco Field.

So now I'm torn.

...........................

Taro does remind me that (1) I do like Gutierrez' stroke very well, (2) he is young and early in his development curve, and (3) developmental time should be spent on the players you believe in, rather than on 30-something vets.

:taps chin:

Well, we're not talking about benching Gutierrez here.  We're talking about cutting his AB's back from 550 to 400-450, so that in a pennant race, Chavez can use the lefty hot-groundball approach against the Roy Halladays of the game.

I guess Taro would have talked me into making sure that Chavez' AB's in CF remained the lesser half of the jobshare.  We'll see what Wok thinks as we get into June and Gutierrez is slugging .380.  :- )